A Ride on the Cyclone, and 7 Ways Life is Actually Like a Roller Coaster
A little bit ago, in the interest of savouring the remainder of summer and celebrating the end of a difficult period, my family took a trip to Coney Island. I've lived in New York City for ages, but I'd never ridden the Cyclone before, and have always admittedly felt a tad guilty for not having lost this aspect of New-Yorker-ginity. Now that I've up one life experience and down ten bucks, I might as well spout a cliche at you. Try not to run away immediately. Life is similar to a roller coaster. Not in a "straight off of Pinterest" inspirational-quote way. At least not really. In an (ever so slightly) more objective way, the vaguely-forward-moving chaos that is my life and King da Ka have something in common.
1) Starting from the fact that they both worry my Russian babushka greatly. Six Flags is full of coasters that, apparently, look like Medieval torture contraptions. I wear crop tops, don't have a boyfriend, and am not planning to become a scientist. This is apparently grey-hair inducing. I'd like to think being ninety years old is more grey hair inducing, but I suppose I wouldn't know.
2) They both involve waiting, usually. Standing in line, in the heat, often surrounded by grumbling strangers. I suck at waiting. I wasn't good at being a patient patient, and I haven't improved much. They say good things come to those who wait. I'd say patience is the most overrated virtue. But then again, perhaps patience is not about waiting. It's about having a positive outlook while you do. No-one likes that guy that loudly sighs every five minutes, or that kid in neon orange basketball shoes that starts screaming when you don't have Advil on hand. It's lucky enough to have something worth waiting for.
3) You're restrained, in some way. On coasters, there are seatbelts, and supports that go over your shoulders. In life, there are rules, etiquette, fears. I don't know about you, but for me, the restraints on roller coasters are never quite right- they either press you down far too tightly, or are too loose and let you bounce around too much. The limits in my life are similar- I'm either too tightly coddled or bouncing out of my comfort zone. The perfect balance of safety and room to breathe, to go out of your comfort zone doesn't seem to exist.
4) The plastic seats of roller coasters are really hard. Life is sometimes a pain in the ass.
5) People always want to ride right in the front. To follow the track ahead of everyone, seeing everything coming up in front. There's the most competition to get to the front. Some people get there and say it's not worth it. But, even if you're not in the front seat, it's your choice to either enjoy the view, or to spend your time staring into the back of the head of someone else. Staring at someone from a distance doesn't help much in following their footsteps.
6) If you wear glasses, you'll probably lose them.
7) They parts of the ride where you're falling are the scariest. The parts that make the most people chicken out. But they're also the most exhilarating. They're what makes some coasters famous. They're the reason people get on the ride in the first place. If you're going to fall, you might as well lift up your arms and enjoy it.
I know life is usually filled with extreme highs and extreme lows, like the best roller coasters. But I hope your ride is worth it.
- Masha
